“By next year, there is no telling where he could be,” said former Calgary Flames general manager Craig Button, now a draft expert for TSN-Canada. “I only know this – I can’t wait until he gets on the ice. I think he’s one of the most exciting players I’ve seen in a long time.”

The 2019 draft is 14 months away, and Hughes is the early favorite to go No. 1 overall.

“As it currently stands, he’s the best 2001 (birth year) player in the world,” said U.S. coach Seth Appert. “Now a lot could change before then, but he is a special player because he is a world-class skater. … He has great vision and playmaking ability, but I think the thing that separates him is that his inner drive and daily competitiveness is absolutely off the charts.”

There’s clearly an awe factor in watching Hughes play. He posted five goals and 15 points in six games for the USA at the under-17 world championships.

“The word I would use is that he is exhilarating to watch,” said Columbus assistant general manager Bill Zito. “He may not score, but he is going to make something happen every time he’s on the ice.”

Appert said Hughes’ speed advantage is multi-faceted.

“It’s not just north-south, but also east-west,” Appert said. “That is really unique. A lot of guys who can burn going north, aren’t as slippery and elusive on their lateral ability and cutbacks. He is equally dangerous in both of those situations.”

Jack Hughes (5-11, 180 pounds) is the son of Jim and Ellen Weinberg-Hughes. Jim was a former pro coach and director of player development for the Toronto Maple Leafs, and Ellen was a Hall of Fame multi-sport athlete, including hockey, at the University of New Hampshire. Jack is also the younger brother of University of Michigan defenseman Quinn Hughes, who could go as early as fifth overall in the 2018 NHL draft.

“(Jack) doesn’t get enough credit for how competitive he is,” Appert said. “Every day he shows up and he’s relentless in his want to be a great hockey player.”

Hughes is smaller than the USA’s recent prize prospects Auston Matthews and Jack Eichel, but he has found a way to have a comparable impact at this age.

“He’s very brave,” said former NHL goalie John Vanbiesbrouck, now general manager of the USHL’s Muskegon Lumberjacks. “For a young guy to be as brave as he is and to have the vision he has puts him an elite category.”

Vanbiesbrouck, also vice president of USA Hockey’s junior council, said if Hughes isn’t the top pick in 2019, “I would like to see the player who is.”

Added Vanbiesbrouck: “I do believe (Hughes) is in the category with Matthews and Eichel, and he might be able to set his own category.”

April 3: The Nashville Predators react as the game tying goal was disallowed with one second left in the third period of a game against the Florida Panthers at BB&T Center. Robert Mayer, USA TODAY Sports

March 28: Flyers goaltender Michal Neuvirth, back from injury, made his first start since Feb. 18. But he left the game leading 2-1 and was replaced by Petr Mrazek during the second period against the Avalanche. David Zalubowski, AP

March 26: Ottawa Senators forward Max McCormick is checked by Carolina Hurricanes forward Brock McGinn during the first period at PNC Arena. The Hurricanes won the game, 4-1. James Guillory, USA TODAY Sports

March 25: A Nic Dowd shot goes off the post and Stars goalie Kari Lehtonen's skate for a goal. Lehtonen also gave up a sharp-angle goal by Jake Virtanen in the 4-1 loss to the Canucks. Tony Gutierrez, AP

March 14: Vegas Golden Knights center Cody Eakin (21) is hit by New Jersey Devils defenseman John Moore (2) and left wing Miles Wood (44) during the first period at T-Mobile Arena. The Devils won the game, 8-3. Stephen R. Sylvanie, USA TODAY Sports

March 6: Predators goalie Pekka Rinne stopped 26 Stars shot to tie the league shutout lead with his seventh. The Predators won 2-0 for their franchise-record ninth consecutive win. Christopher Hanewinckel, USA TODAY Sports

March 2: Ottawa Senators center Matt Duchene chops at the puck after falling to the ice during the third period against the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena. The Senators won the game, 5-4. Stephen R. Sylvanie, USA TODAY Sports

Feb. 28: Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy gets ice sprayed in his face as he makes a save against the Sabres. The Lightning lost 2-1 in overtime, and Vasilevskiy received a misconduct penalty for throwing his stick down the ice. Kim Klement, USA TODAY Sports

Feb. 27: Jets center Paul Stastny, one of the top trade deadline acquisitions, celebrates after scoring in his Winnipeg debut. Also scoring in their debut: Boston's Tommy Wingels and Nashville's Ryan Hartman (a game-winner). Evander Kane had two assists in his Sharks debut. James Carey Lauder, USA TODAY Sports

Feb. 23: Wild forward Eric Staal, left, congratulates Mikael Granlund after his goal. Granlund looked like he had a hat trick, but one of his goals was later awarded to Staal. Adam Hunger, USA TODAY Sports

Feb. 22: Florida Panthers goaltender Roberto Luongo (1) addresses fans in honor of the victims of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School before a game against the Washington Capitals. Steve Mitchell, USA TODAY Sports

Feb. 20: Flyers right wing Jakub Voracek, who scored a tying goal with 85 seconds left and in overtime against the Canadiens, exchanges a high five with goalie Alex Lyon. Voracek also had an assist in the 3-2 victory. Eric Hartline, USA TODAY Sports

Feb. 18: Devils winger Taylor Hall scores in overtime to beat the Hurricanes. He has an 11-game point streak and had a seven-game one before he sat out with a thumb injury. James Guillory, USA TODAY Sports

Feb. 17: Penguins center Evgeni Malkin (71) puts the puck behind Maple Leafs goaltender Frederik Andersen for the 900th point of his career. He had a goal and two assists as the Penguins won 5-3 to extend their home winning streak to 11 games. Gene J. Puskar, AP

Feb. 11: Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) is congratulated by teammates after scoring his 400th career goal during the second period against the St. Louis Blues at Scottrade Center. Jeff Curry, USA TODAY Sports

Feb. 9: Jets forward Mark Scheifele, playing his first game since Dec. 27, is checked by Blues defenseman Carl Gunnarsson. The Blues won 5-2 and trail the Jets and Predators by two points in the Central Division. John Woods, AP

Feb. 3: The New Jersey Devils' Brian Boyle high fives a young girl as the team heads to the ice for the start of third period against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Prudential Center. The Devils won the game, 3-1. Ed Mulholland, USA TODAY Sports

Feb. 1: Vegas Golden Knights forward David Perron (57) celebrates his overtime goal against the Winnipeg Jets at Bell MTS Place. The win was the Golden Knights' 34th of the season, setting a record for victories by an expansion team. James Carey Lauder, USA TODAY Sports

Jan. 30. Penguins goaltender Matt Murray, in his first start since the death of his father, is named first star of the game after a 40-save, 5-2 victory against the Sharks. Charles LeClaire, USA TODAY Sports

Jan. 20: Colorado Avalanche defenseman Erik Johnson falls to the ice after colliding with New York Rangers left wing J.T. Miller in the third period at the Pepsi Center. The Avalanche won the game, 3-1. Isaiah J. Downing, USA TODAY Sports

Jan. 17: The Montreal Canadiens' Alex Galchenyuk with the help of goalie Carey Price stop a shot by the Boston Bruins' Tim Schaller during the first period at TD Garden. The Bruins won the game, 4-1. Greg M. Cooper, USA TODAY Sports

Jan. 13: New York Rangers right wing Jesper Fast and New York Islanders defenseman Adam Pelech (50) come together at the boards during the third period at Madison Square Garden. The Islanders won the game, 7-2. Andy Marlin, USA TODAY Sports

Jan. 10: Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook (7) celebrates his goal against the Minnesota Wild. It was his first since opening night, ending a 40-game drought, and happened during his return from a healthy scratch. Kamil Krzaczynski, USA TODAY Sports

Jan. 3: Chicago Blackhawks left wing Ryan Hartman (38) battles for the puck with New York Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh (27) during the third period at Madison Square Garden. Chicago won the game, 5-2. Adam Hunger, USA TODAY Sports

Dec. 31: Vegas Golden Knights forward William Karlsson (71) celebrates after scoring an empty-net goal to complete the first Vegas Golden Knights hat trick during the third period of play against the Toronto Maple Leafs at T-Mobile Arena. Stephen R. Sylvanie, USA TODAY Sports

Dec. 30: Los Angeles Kings left wing Jussi Jokinen (36) falls in front of the net as goaltender Jonathan Quick as he tries to make the save against the Vancouver Canucks during a 4-3 win at Rogers Arena. Dominique Belanger-Gagne, USA TODAY Sports

Dec. 14: Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon scored both of his team's goals against the Florida Panthers, including in overtime, to be named second star of the game. He has 27 points in 20 games since the start of November. Ron Chenoy, USA TODAY Sports

Dec. 12: Minnesota Wild goalie Alex Stalock is hugged by Chris Stewart and Mikko Koivu after a 2-1 shootout win against the Calgary Flames. Stalock entered the game at the start of the second period because of an injury to starter Devan Dubnyk. Stacy Bengs, AP

Dec. 11: The Dallas Stars' Brett Ritchie (25) checks the New York Ranger' Ryan McDonagh during the first period at Madison Square Garden. The Stars beat the Rangers in a shootout. Adam Hunger, USA TODAY Sports

Dec. 6: Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Frederik Andersen keeps his eye on the puck after making a save against the Calgary Flames at the Air Canada Centre. The Maple Leafs beat the Flames after an overtime shootout. John E. Sokolowski, USA TODAY Sports

Dec. 4: Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) scores a goal on San Jose Sharks goalie Martin Jones (31) in the second period at Capital One Arena. The goal moved Ovechkin into sole possession of 20th on the all-time goals list. Geoff Burke, USA TODAY Sports

Dec. 1: St. Louis Blues right wing Scottie Upshall is checked into the boards by Los Angeles Kings defenseman Alec Martinez during the third period at Scottrade Center. The Kings won the game, 4-1. Billy Hurst, USA TODAY Sports

Nov. 30: Vancouver Canucks goalie Anders Nilsson makes a save on a shot by the Nashville Predators' Miikka Salomaki (20) during the third period at Bridgestone Arena. The Canucks won the game, 5-3. Christopher Hanewinckel, USA TODAY Sports

Nov. 28: Johnny Gaudreau, right, and his Flames teammates held Auston Matthews without a shot for the first time in his career (103 games), but the Maple Leafs star had an assist in Toronto's 4-1 victory. Bruce Fedyck, USA TODAY Sports

Nov. 25: Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates as he scores a goal in the first period against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Air Canada Centre. Ovechkin went on to record a hat trick. Tom Szczerbowski, USA TODAY Sports

Nov 21: The St. Louis Blues did plenty of celebrating in an 8-3 rout of the Edmonton Oilers. The Vladimir Tarasenko-Jaden Schwartz-Brayden Schenn line combined for 11 points. Jeff Curry, USA TODAY Sports

Nov. 12: New Jersey Devils forward Miles Wood (44) and Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Connor Murphy (5) collide during the first period at United Center. Wood would go on to record the first hat trick of his career in the Devils' wild 7-5 win. David Banks, USA TODAY Sports

Nov. 10: It was a milestone night in Washington as Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) played in the 800th game of his NHL career. But Washington Capitals goalie Braden Holtby (70) got the win and a milestone of his own, becoming the second-fastest player to reach 200 career victories. Brad Mills, USA TODAY Sports

Oct. 28: Los Angeles Kings forward Tyler Toffoli (73) celebrates his game-winning goal against the Boston Bruins, which came with under a second to go in overtime, with defenseman Drew Doughty (8). Bob DeChiara, USA TODAY Sports

Oct. 23: New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist (30) reacts during the third period against the San Jose Sharks at Madison Square Garden. The Rangers lost 4-1 to fall to 2-6-2 on the season. Brad Penner, USA TODAY Sports

Oct. 19: Devils center Nico Hischier, middle, celebrates his first NHL goal with left wing Taylor Hall during the first period against the Senators at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa. Marc DesRosiers, USA TODAY Sports

Oct. 16: Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov (86) is congratulated by teammates after scoring in the third period against the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena. Rick Osentoski, USA TODAY Sports

Oct. 10: The Vegas Golden Knights honor the 58 victims and the first responders of the Oct. 1 mass shooting in Las Vegas prior to the Golden Knights' first regular-season home game. Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports

Oct. 6: Vegas Golden Knights left wing James Neal (18) scores the game-winning goal against Dallas Stars goalie Kari Lehtonen (32) during the third period at the American Airlines Center. Neal scored both his team's goals as the Golden Knights won their first-ever game. Jerome Miron, USA TODAY Sports

Oct. 5: General view at brand new Little Caesars Arena during the national anthem prior to the season-opener between the Red Wings and Wild. The Red Wings won the game, 4-2. Rick Osentoski, USA TODAY Sports

Oct. 4: Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby prepares to carry the Stanley Cup onto the ice during the 2017 banner raising ceremony before the season-opening game against the St. Louis Blues at PPG PAINTS Arena. The Blues won the game, 5-4, in overtime. Charles LeClaire, USA TODAY Sports